Prince of Lanling: A Ballad of the God of War

Gao Changgong (541–573), a member of the Northern Qi imperial family and the fourth son of Emperor Wenxiang, was one of the four great beauties of ancient China and a celebrated Northern Qi general. Because his handsome features were not intimidating enough to frighten his enemies, he often wore a fearsome mask in battle and won repeated victories. In the end, his achievements made him a threat to the throne, and Emperor Houzhu Gao Wei sentenced him to death. He was only thirty-three years old.